Illiteracy is responsible for my robbery – suspect

By OKOSUN OKHUELEIGBE

Luck ran out of two robbery gang operating on motorbike popularly called Okada as operatives of Rapid Response Squad (RRS) of Lagos State Police Command, over the weekend, apprehended them around Lekki – Ajah Expressway in Lagos.

The two suspects, Odunayo Mustapha, and Adedayo Akinjola, both 22 years old were arrested by the RRS bikers on patrol duty after they had successfully snatched a mobile phone from an unsuspecting member of public. It was learnt that the suspects were nabbed while trying to escape with their motorcycle.

According to the Lagos state Police spokesperson, DSP Joe Offor who confirmed the arrest of the suspects said effort was on top gear to arrest the third suspect who ran away with the stolen phone.

However, one of the policeman who effected the arrest but spoke anonymously said, “We were able to intercept the fleeing robbers when their victim, a young lady, screamed that her mobile phone had been snatched. Immediately, we gave the fleeing suspects a chase which led to the arrest of two them while the third suspect later identified as Lekan made away with the stolen phone.”

While confessing to the crime at the RRS headquarters in Alausa, the suspects said they were a three-man gang who usually rob in a traffic gridlock along Lekki – Ajah corridor.

The gang leader identified as Odunayo Mustapha, and hails from Ijebu-Igbo in Ogun state, said that he was lured into the crime due to financial predicament. He explained that he was attracted to the victim’s phone when he peeped into her car while on the bike.

“Three of us left home in search of our would-be victims. On getting to Ajah opposite a shopping mall, where traffic is usually hectic, we sighted a woman in a car holding a phone. I alighted from the motorcycle while my two other members were standing by on the motorcycle. I forcefully collected the phone from her and mounted the motorcycle, and we zoomed off.

“While on the run, we sighted the RRS men chasing us with a brand new power-bike. Later, they outran us but one of us disembarked and took to his heels with the stolen phone, while we were arrested,” he said.

Given reasons for robbery, the gang leader, Odunayo explained that he took to robbery because of lack of formal education. “I am an illiterate because my parents could not provide the wherewithal for me to have a formal education. This was what brought me to Lagos some years ago. While in the state, I started work as cart pusher around Jakande area in Ajah. Little proceeds from this business couldn’t sustain me. That was why I chose to be robbing innocent members of public with Okada for easy manoeuvring after operation.”

He disclosed that their first operation was carried out by three of them at Ajah. “Our first operation was carried out by the three of us in Ajah, Lagos. We collected one Techno Android phone from our victim. It was sold to one Mallam Hassan by Adedayo, and I got the sum of N2, 500 as my share. The second operation was not successful and the third one was this one that led to our arrest,” he revealed.

On his part, the second suspect, Adedayo, said, “Before now, I was learning aluminium work but I could not complete it due to financial constraint. We just started the act of robbery in the area. And this was our third operation.  The motorcycle we use belonged to the third suspect who is now at large,” he said.